LIFEGUARD LAURA IS SCOTTISH GOLF CHAMPION

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Laura Murray from Alford, a 23-year-old part-time swimming pool lifeguard, was certainly not out out of her depth in the final - her first -  of the 98th Scottish women's amateur golf champion over the Old Tom Morris-designed links at Tain in Ross-shire. The No 2 seed shot four birdies - three of them in the last six holes - to beat the leading qualifier for the match-play stages, 22-year-old Jane Turner (Craigielaw) from Penicuik by two holes. Sometimes, finals in match-play tournaments can be an anti-climax with one of the contestants playing well below his or her potential. But not so at Tain. Both girls did themselves justice and it was a treat to watch. Murray was an approximate one or two under par for the round; Turner, also playing in the national final for the first time, was one over par. Laura said later: "My coach, Keil Beveridge, told me to go out and treat the final as though I was playing a bounce game against Jane, whom I know well - and I did just that. I was totally relaxed and really enjoyed myself. "I was more nervous in the early rounds of the match-play when I was twice taken to the 18th green before winning. "Keil - who is my boyfriend as well as my PGA coach - has transformed my game with a lot of hard work, starting in the winter. At the end of last season, I didn't know where my golf was taking me. I was all over the place, even though I did win the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews two years ago. "Then Keil started coaching me and playing with me in the North-east Alliance winter fixtures where I have to play off the same tees as the men  and that's made me a much longer hitter than I used to be. I have learned to hit the ball harder. "Keil is very simplistic in his approach to coaching and it has worked wonders for me. I was the leading Scot in the Helen Holm tournament at Troon last month; then top Scot in the Welsh women's strokeplay - and now this - champion of Scotland. What an advertisement for Keil's coaching capabilities. "Could I also pay tribute to the support I have been given by the Paul Lawrie Foundation. It makes a different when you are getting that kind of ongoing backing. I know I'm lucky to get it and I appreciate Paul picking me out." Jane Turner, who will graduate as a graphic designer at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen this summer - and walk into a job with an Edinburgh company, was quite philosophical about losing in her first Scottish final. "If you had told me last weekend that I would come to Tain, being the leading qualifier, reach the final and go all the way to the 18th green, I would have said: Yes, I'll take it." she said "So, yes, maybe I am a little bit disapointed that I didn't win but I felt I played well in the final. I just didn't get enough birdies to beat Laura who was on top of her game. But Im not going to turn pro. Theres always next year and this championship will be at Longniddry - almost a home course for me - in East Lothian next year. My turn will maybe come then." Murray was never behind in the final after taking the lead for the first time at the fifth. Turner squared the match at the sevent4h but lost the eighth and ninth to be two down at the turn. Turner started the inward half well with wins at the 10th and 11th to square the game for a second time. Mufrray came out of a bunker within a foot of the hole to halve the 12th when it seemed as if she would go one down for the firesty time. Back to back birdie 4s at the 13th and 14th put Murray two up again. She lost the 15th with one of her few bogeys but was not seriously threatened in halvig the 16th and 17th. Then, at the final hole, Murray pulled out a magnificent approach shot to within a foot of the hole for a "gimme" birdie 3.  Turner, sportingly, conceded the putt and the match. Final (18 holes) - Laura Murray (Alford) bt Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 2 holes.